Surely it is no coincidence that the word listen is an anagram of the word silent!Author Unknown

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InspirEmail No 310 - January 2017 - 11 ways to make this your best year yet'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

11 ways to make this your best year yet . . . it is never too late to start a fresh new year!

Today is a wonderful time to take
stock and reflect on the year gone by, the triumphs you achieved, the
time you shared with family and friends, the good choices you made in
business. But in order to grow and develop both personally and
professionally, you also have to look back at and acknowledge the things
that challenged you, the things that did not go so well.

There is nothing wrong with
setbacks, in fact, I believe that if we don't have obstacles to overcome
along the way we won't learn and grow. Thomas Watson, the founder of
IBM, once said, 'If you want to increase your rate of success, you
better be prepared to increase your rate of failure.'

We all have hopes and dreams for
the future. Today the slate is wiped clean for all of us as we start
afresh. Why not take a few moments to think about your dreams and goals
for the year that starts today? In what areas do you want to grow?
What is truly important to you? What challenges do you want to take
on? Most of us don't realise what we can accomplish when we unleash the
hidden talents that we possess.

To help you make this year your best ever, take a few moments to ponder these 11 suggestions:

1. Challenge yourself

Have a clear vision and focus of
what you want to achieve and set a time frame. Challenge yourself to be
the best you can be at all times. Visualise what you want to accomplish.
See it in your mind. Write down your goals, have a plan of action, and
never doubt you will be successful.

2. Find the love factor

Surround yourself with loving,
supportive people. Stay away from the dream stealers, the people who
would bring you down. Cherish the special people in your life and let
them know you cherish them.

3. Dedicate quality time

Life is so precious; make the most
of each and every day. Rise early, spend some quality time by yourself
as well as with those you care about. Go for a walk, workout, read a
book. Value not only the time you spend with your loved ones, but also
the time you spend by yourself.

4. Stretch your comfort zone

Do at least one thing a day, which
makes you feel uncomfortable. Push yourself; you will be amazed how far
you can go. Remember: on the other side of fear is freedom. To remain
stagnant is not to grow. To reach your full potential, you must rise
above the fray and soar like an eagle.

5. Be passionate

Show passion in everything you do.
Let it show in your body language, in your smile, in your voice. Let
your eyes sparkle. Let the world see and hear your enthusiasm and let it
feel your passion.

6. Serve others

Be a role model and mentor for
people. Volunteer in your community and help others achieve their goals.
Your world will be enriched and a better place for sharing your talents
and giving freely of your time. Leave a lasting legacy.

7. Don't sweat the small stuff

Let go of the little things you
can't control. Don't take yourself so seriously. Recognise that
perfection isn't always the only option. Don't let life's imperfections
bother you. Lighten up and see the funny side of things when they go
wrong, the learning in them. Be tolerant, smile. . . don't waste your
energies on the small stuff, you have much bigger fish to fry.

8. Live with integrity

Always be true to yourself. Take
pride in whatever you do. Be proud of who you are and what you
represent. Accept others with all their flaws. Show compassion and
goodwill to your fellow human beings. Be dignified. Lead a life of
purpose and be proud of your values.

9. Show gratitude

Show gratitude and say thank-you
to the people who have helped you along the way. Send a handwritten
letter to someone who has touched you. Call up a friend or loved one and
tell them how much they mean to you. Compliment a colleague or business
associate on a job well done. Show people you appreciate and care
about them. Acts of kindness cost nothing but mean everything.

10. Celebrate success

Be proud of your achievements.
Take time to recognise yourself and others for even the small successes.
But also be humble and dignified, sensitive to people who are not as
fortunate as you.

11. Exude a positive attitude

I cannot express enough the
importance of having a positive attitude and believing in yourself.
Yes, you can be well intentioned, you can be determined, but without a
positive attitude about yourself and about life, you will not succeed.
Dreams will die, goals will fade, and gloom and darkness will replace
clear blue skies and sunshine in your mind and heart.

Remember people will sometimes
forget what you say to them or do for them, but they will never forget
how you made them feel in their hearts. Make yourself a commitment for
this year not only to have the best year ever, but to help others that
you care about accomplish this goal as well.

Written by Charles Marcus

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-
Inspirational Quote -

You are the conductor of your own
attitude! Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you Lee
J. Colan